An American pastor from Idaho has been sentenced to eight years in one of Iran’s harshest prisons for preaching Christianity in Iranian homes, it was revealed today.

Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen who was born in Iran, has been held since September and charged with ‘threatening the national security of Iran.

The 32-year-old father of two says he was in the country only to establish and orphanage and was not preaching Christianity.

Abedini, seen here with his wife Naghmeh and their two young children

The American Center for Law and Justice, which is working with Mr Abedini’s family to free him from Iranian custody, says the pastor led house churches in the Islamic nation in the early 2000s, when the state did not consider such activities a threat.

‘With today’s development I am devastated for my husband and my family. We must now pursue every effort, turn every rock, and not stop until Saeed is safely on American soil,’ Mr Abedini’s devastated wife Naghmeh, said.

Mr Abedini is being held in Evin Prison in Tehran, the infamous gulag that houses most of the country’s political prisoners.

The ACLJ, a legal advocacy group founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, reports that Revolutionary Court Judge Pir-Abassi convicted and sentenced Mr Abedini after a hastily-called court hearing.

The group says that the ruling violated Iran’s judicial rules and was motivated purely by politics.

‘We know that with the Iranian Revolutionary Court, Pastor Saeed’s conviction and sentence had to be approved at the very top – The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had to sign off,’ Jordan Sekulow, the director of international operations, wrote.

The ACLJ says that Mr Abedini was beaten and tortured while in Iranian custody.

He and his attorney were allowed to attend just one day of his trial, which began on January 21.

Iranian officials had previously said they were planning to release the pastor, so the news that he was sentenced to eight years in a harsh prison came as a shock to his family and supporters.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and the State Department have both called for Mr Abedini’s release, thought the Iranian government has clearly ignored the request.

Have you heard their calls for his release? Because when a movie trailer about Islam was made, all levels of Obama’s administration were in the media condemning it. Quite a contrast.

20 Responses

Well it looks like God wants to show himself real, to stupid people like you. Christians go to dangerous places just like military men do , for the saving of a human. He’s a hero in my eyes. Lets watch to see what God will do. Just like Paul and Joseph , god is in control. I’m praying for you pastor.

Bet your name isn’t “Lucinda”. You hide behind a phony name because you have a black hole for where your heart should be. You can live in your darkness and die in it too. When you face Jesus Christ, he will answer your question as to why he sends his people to Iran. Then you will face his judgement.

Hey anonymous and Marianne, would you have done the same thing?would you go to a dysfunctional and radical islamic government that you know has issues with America and Israel and teach Christianity, yeah you must be asking for it. He left the country for a reason, maybe to come back and change it like a hero, sounds like suicide. They don’t want to be ‘saved’ as you say, just stay away. I don’t understand how dumb could you be. Go to china and try to start a Democratic government and let me know how it goes

@Billybob, I pray that I would have the courage to do as Pastor Saeed did as well as the many martyrs that gave their lives for their faith in Christ.

Pastor Saeed went to Iran to see his family who live there. Is that what you are condemning? You are a fool, billybob and one day you will pay the consequence for your evil remarks. You have no idea about the power of Christ to change lives. You are just a puppet for the devil but you think you are so wise. You will find out when you come face to face with Christ in judgment. Then we will see who is dumb. Sadly for you it will be too late.

Missionaries go to a people group they have a heart for. God gives them that heart. I know a person who was hiding Christians in Iran. He was in jail for 6 months and yes he got to beat and starved just like great men of the bible. These men do these things because they love people because they love The Lord. And I would do the same thing that he did if God called me yo do it because I love Jesus. And my name is Maria.

And if you think the pastor actually went to these evil men and preached Christianity your as crazy as the Muslims are. He went to help his people to show them about a wonderful God named Jesus. He’s no fool. From Maria.

[…] via Saeed Abedini: U.S. pastor sentenced to 8 years in Iranian prison for preaching Christianity in homes | Mail Online. An American pastor from Idaho has been sentenced to eight years in one of Iran’s harshest prisons for preaching Christianity in Iranian homes, it was revealed today. Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen who was born […] Iran sentences U.S. pastor to 8 years in prison for preaching Christianity […]

who in their right mind would go to such a place? May be some f-16s willing to enter the airspace and ask for his release within 1 hour or else above Tehran would work. Better still send the military in to pull him out. Or ask the backbiting CAIR funding saudis. They hate shia muslims. Or have Russia and China threaten to stop arms shipments to there.

Obviously, everyone believes that Iran, Iraq, and the immediate countries south of them are “Muslim” countries…huh! Hate to burst your bubble, but…they are NOT! Only their governments ARE! The people themselves ARE ASSYRIANS!!! They probably have a greater LOVE for Yahshua M (Jesus Christ/the Messiah) more than any other people on this Earth! Imagine, living in a Muslim country where it is certain death to even speak a “word” in behalf of Christianity???

There are Christians in those countries, bobby, but the majority of those people are into Islam. Christianity is growing in persecuted nations but they are still the minority. What do you mean that only their governments are Muslims? Where are you getting your information?

Sorry Marianne, but, the Assyrian people no longer have a country of their own…their homeland has been completely stripped away from them! Please…,don’t take my word for it…research it for yourself…perhaps you will be as surprised to find the truth as I did!

bobby, there are Christians in Iran, Iraq and other Muslim countries and they are being persecuted. I just believe that the majority of them are not Christian. I read all the links you sent but I found one that I think better makes your point: http://www.atour.com/maps/